This is a graphic presentation of my urban planning work. Please review my CV for personal and education details, and for work experience information.

1. Portfolio
Dr. Robert J. Platt
15 November 2011

2. Curriculum Vitae
Personal Details
• Nationality British
• Profession Urban Designer and Architect
Education
• Ph.D. University of the Witwatersrand
• Master of Arts in Urban Design, University of Manchester
• Bachelor of Architecture, University of Natal
• Property Development Programme, Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town
Academic Experience
• Lecturer in Design, University of Natal 1976
Elected Positions
• Vice President Natal Institute of Architect 1987 – 1988
• Durban City Council Planning Committee 1986 – 1988
• Durban City Beach & City Steering Committee 1986 – 1988
Language Ability
• English Mother tongue
• Afrikaans Good

3. Curriculum Vitae
Professional Career
• Director Osmond Lange Incorporated, South Africa, Transkei, Boputhatswana and Ciskei 1979-1988
• Partner Architectural & Planning Studio, Botswana 1979-1988
• Director John S Bonnington Partnership, London, United Kingdom 1988-1991
• Partner Maurice Dibb Associates, Durban, South Africa 1991-1992
• Private Practice 1993-1994
• Director John S Bonnington Partnership, London, United Kingdom (based in China & Lebanon) 1994-1995
• Private Practice 1996-1997
• Osmond Lange Architects & Planners, Johannesburg, South Africa 1997-2000
• Halcrow International , London, United Kingdom (based in the U.A.E.) 2000 – 2007
• Sama Dubai , Dubai, U.A.E. 2007 – 2009
• Mubadala/JBI, Abu Dhabi U.A.E. 2009 - 2011

4. Urban Design & Placemaking

5. Urban Design
Sowwah Island, Abu Dhabi
Mubadala was tasked by the Abu Dhabi Government to
create, on Sowwah Island, a new CBD for the city.
My role was that of Senior Design Manager responsible for
coordinating the work of the planning, design, environment,
traffic and utilities consultants to ensure successful delivery
of the Vision
Renderings by others

6. Urban Design
Sowwah Island, Abu Dhabi
Renderings by others

7. Urban Design
Business Bay, Dubai
This master plan for a new CBD for Dubai was prepared on
behalf of a government entity set up to spearhead
development growth in Dubai. It includes an 15km.
extension of the existing Dubai Creek, wrapping it through
the site and connecting it to the Arabian Gulf.
My role was that of project manager, and senior urban
designer responsible for urban planning and development
regulations.
perspective renderings by others

8. Urban Design
Business Bay, Dubai
3D modelling and rendering by others

9. Urban Design
The Lagoons, Dubai
This master plan for a life style project at the head of the
Dubai Creek includes some 90million sq.ft. of primarily
residential development, with a major waterfront living
component supported by a mixed use high street
environment.
My role was that of project manager, and senior urban
designer responsible for urban planning and development
regulations.
I subsequently joined the Master Developer as Director
responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of the
masterplan and the development control process.
3D modelling and rendering by others

10. Urban Design
New City Plan, Dubai
This master plan for a new city of some 250,000 people was prepared in 2003 for the Dubai Municipality.
The site is an area of some 60sq.kms. of coastal land at the western end of the Emirate.
Following the development of a framework plan for the entire area, a detailed master plan for a notional
phase one was produced.
My role was that of senior urban designer responsible for urban planning and development regulations.
3D modelling of Phase 1 by others

11. Urban Design
Dubai Internet City
Dubai Internet City Free Zone is a mixed use
development for E-Commerce and Media activities. It
will house 70,000 employees and 15,000 residents at
completion.
The Masterplan was completed in April 2001, with a
subsequent study assessing the impact of high-rise
buildings on the design concept being completed in
October 2001.
Demand for development has exceeded expectations
and the Masterplan is due for a review in January 2002.
My responsibility was that of senior urban designer,
developing early concepts (by others) into land use
plans and sub-division layouts, and producing
comprehensive Development Guidelines for the entire
site. I worked closely with landscape architects and
infrastructure engineers, and assisted in the production
of Town Planning Regulations for the project.
I subsequently project managed a complete review of
the original master plan, necessitated by the need to
respond to changing market patterns and investor
demand..

12. Urban Design
Peoples’ Square, Shanghai
Shanghai is the fastest growing city in China, with ever-increasing pressures being
brought to bear on its public transportation infrastructure. Two metro lines intersect
at Peoples’ Square and a third is in the final stages of design. Most of the bus
routes from the suburbs also terminate at the Square.
Peoples’ Square is the heart and lung of the Shanghai CBD, and is suffering as a
result of the transportation pressure being brought to bear.
The objective of the project was to solve the transportation issues in a way that
would also lead to improvements for the users of the Square and to attempt to heal
the fragmented space.
My responsibility included urban design concept studies, liaison with transportation
engineers and the client body, and production of the presentation material.

13. Urban Design
Hill Station, India
During the days of British rule the Indian Hill Stations were
developed as places for escaping the fierce humidity of the
coastal areas. Boarding schools also flourished in these areas
as parents wanted their children to spend time away from the
heat and unhealthy environments of the cities.
There has recently been a resurgence of interest amongst the
wealthier Indian families in this concept, and there is increasing
demand for boarding schools and weekend retreats.
The project was submitted in competition with other international
practices, and encompasses the development of a new Hill
Station and ancillary facilities on the edges of a major dam.
I was responsible for the design of the new town, and the layout
of a number of resort areas in the valleys of the surrounding
hills.

14. Urban Design
Vista Technology Park Singapore
This was a concept design competition for a mixed
use project with a technology focus, located in the
Academic area of Singapore.
Working with a team of architects from Singapore,
my input included assisting with the development of
the Vision, and various detailed design studies to
project this image.

15. Urban Design
Tourism Framework Plan, Dubai
3D modelling by others
I was the senior urban designer for this project – a
framework plan to create a regional tourism and
entertainment centre. The project was for the Dubai
Executive Office, and was launched in 2004 as
Dubailand.
My role included planning, site layouts, urban design
studies and the creation of development guidelines.
The project entailed extensive interaction both with
the client, and with potential investors, and included
presentations to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed.

16. Urban Design
Studies for Residential Developments
This sheet illustrates design studies for various
residential typologies located within master planning
projects undertaken in the Middle East.

17. Urban Design
Khor Qurm Ras al Khaimah
I had the role of Project Manager and lead urban designer
for this resort development on the Ras Al Khaimah coast. It
comprises plots for resort hotels, a major theme park, local
retail, and apartment buildings, and is notable for its
relationship with an adjacent wetlands conservation project.

18. Urban Design
San Fernando Trinidad
San Fernando is the second largest town in Trinidad. In the year 2000 the
Waterfront area was identified as an Action Plan area in an attempt to re-
vitalise an aging and rundown location to make it attractive to locals and
tourists.
I was responsible for site analysis and for the production of urban design
concept plans for the area, which included upgrading and re-use of existing
historic warehouse buildings, the creation of a new tourist plaza, and
proposing a series of small islands off-shore for building high-value villas and
condominiums.
The project also has to make provision for a major transportation interchange
and a coastal ferry service.

19. Urban Design
Melrose Arch
Melrose Arch is a re-development in the suburbs of Johannesburg. It is
planned using New Urbanist techniques to be a series of mixed use
perimeter block buildings fronting a High Street and Town Square. It is
unique in the South African context, where development generally follows
segregated land use planning principles, and where shopping takes places
at giant indoor malls.
I was responsible for urban design matters, and for the design and delivery
of the urban fabric. I also undertook the production of Design Guidelines
for the numerous architectural practices who were commissioned to
design the buildings for Phase 1.
The project received an urban design award from the Institute of South
African Architects, with special mention for the clarity and practicality of the
Design Guidelines.

20. Urban Design
Melrose Arch

21. Urban Design
Welbedacht Village
A new mixed use development in Port Elizabeth, South
Africa, comprising commercial, retail, residential and
recreational functions for a population of 5,500.
My role included preparing concept plans for approval by
Local Authorities, detailed masterplanning, and
development of Design Guidelines,.

22. Urban Design
Hillcrest Village
The Village is typical of small towns that have lost
their hearts due to commercial strip development
and increasing traffic congestion on the main
access roads.
The project aimed to re-vitalise the Centre by
creating a new mixed-use heart comprising retail,
commercial and residential functions around a
new town square.

23. Urban Design
Hillcrest Village
Existing sports fields
New High Street
View towards new Town Square

24. Urban Design
Township Upgrade
A proposal to upgrade an “apartheid era”
township (one of the first ever built).
The town was the scene of riots and housed
active cells of the ANC, and is now to be
developed as a living museum of the period.
The design enhances the experience from a
tourist perspective, and provides a sequence
of focal nodes to organise the built form and
the various functions.

25. Urban Design
Nansha Golf & Country Club
A private golf resort outside
Gaungzhou, Southern China.
It comprises 2 18 hole golf
courses, a central clubhouse,
members’ villas, an indoor
tennis centre, a members’
“Chinese” village, and a
members’ “Hilltop Town”
I was resident project
architect, and responsible for
the design of many of the
buildings.

26. Urban Design
Golf & Country Estate, Portugal
A substantial project (2,500 acres) close to Lisbon, on the
southern coast of Portugal, comprising an 18 hole golf course,
large groups of private villas and apartments, hotels, and
ancillary facilities.
The natural landscape, which includes a fragile ecological
coastal reserve, was used to create identifiable village areas,
and to provide walking and riding trails with a focus on the
natural beach and forest environment.

27. Urban Design
Beirut Masterplan
A new mixed use suburb on re-claimed land south of Beirut, for the Prime
Minister of Lebanon. It comprises high value apartments arranged to
maximise sea views, plus extensive commercial, hotel, recreational and
retail functions. There is also provision for a marina on the northern end of
the site.
My role including development of a Vision for the site and detailed studies
to ensure maximisation of sea views from residential plots.

28. Urban Design
Free Trade Zones, Lebanon
The zones shown here are two of of 15 locations throughout
Lebanon developed for the Investment Development Authority of
Lebanon (IDAL).
The concept is to create areas for stimulating local growth by
offering Free Trade industrial facilities - effectively neutral areas
free of exchange control mechanisms.

29. Urban Design
University of Zululand - Umlazi Campus
The masterplan for a new campus for 5,000 students. My role was assistant master planner for the academic
facilities complex (shown in these images).

30. Architecture

31. Architecture
National Bank of Dubai
A new building to accommodate the headquarters and main branch of the
Bank. The building reflects its prestige position and responds to opportunities
presented by a prime site on the Dubai Creek.
Accommodation comprises 24,000m2 of banking, office, and special functions
areas.
This was a competition entry; various design studies for the tower can be
seen in the Artwork section of this document.
View from the Dubai Creek

32. Architecture
Farmers Union Building London
A dual function office building housing the National Farmers Union headquarters (3,000m 2) and lettable office space
(10,000m2). It is sited on prestigious Knightsbridge in central London.

33. Architecture
Office Building Watford
A commercial development in Watford, England - the winning scheme in a developer’s competition providing 8,000m 2 of
high grade office space on 5 floors.

34. Architecture
Office Park Derby
A commercial development in Derby, England - comprising 30,000m2 of speculative office space in a group of 3 and 4
storey buildings. The design had to acknowledge a conservation area on two boundaries - style and materials were
selected with this in mind.

35. Architecture
Morula Sun Hotel South Africa
This project involves the re-furbishment of an existing
casino hotel. New themes have been developed, using
a mixture of traditional and high tech to complement
the style of the existing buildings

36. Architecture
Waterfront Hotel Durban
This 60 room hotel is located in the
Harbour in Durban South Africa,
and is designed to provide a
comfortable yet dramatic
destination for travelling
yachtsmen.
It comprises accommodation,
central facilities, a multi-storey
glazed display area, outdoor cafes,
and specialist shopping.

37. Architecture
Whipsnade Zoo
Design studies for new animal enclosures and themed
display areas for different animal and activity
categories.

38. Architecture
University of Zululand Library
The Library is positioned at the intersection of major campus
routes. It houses some 150,000 volumes in 8 departmental, and 3
special collections, and the internal space is sub-divided into
vertically expressed slots of accommodation to reflect this.

39. Architecture
Domestic Interior Studies
This was a sketch proposal for a planned
extension to one of the palaces of the Qatar
Royal Family.

40. Artwork

41. Artwork
Existing Buildings

42. Artwork
Existing Buildings
Studies of Buildings in The Lake District, UK.

43. Artwork
Existing Buildings
An old farmhouse outside Durban, South Africa.

44. Artwork
Images of Lancaster

45. Artwork
New Projects
Morula Sun - View of new Main Entrance

46. Artwork
New Projects

47. Artwork
New Projects
Refurbishment of Existing
Warehouse into Specialised
Shopping Arcade University of Transkei - View of Phase 1 and Library

48. Artwork
New Projects
Early pencil sketch design studies for an Office Park in Derby,
comparing a low-rise “mega-structure” with a combination of low
and high-rise buildings.

49. Artwork
New Projects
Design studies for the National Bank of Dubai Headquarters.